Rock and a hard place

We would all do anything for our children, but one of my children has me up against a wall pain wise. With all the tricks we develop for daily chores and such, you learn to get through the day as best as you can. With the rise in the severity and scope of my pain in pelvic joints and lower back, I have been fighting more to do that. My middle child is a softball player. She is now 11 and in her league, that is the age where the serious competition begins. Our middle schools here have softball teams, and the coaches are known to come to the fields and watch the girls and make note of who is who and what skills they have before they ever try out for the school team.

So, she needs practice. Lots of it. Every day. I have tried to find her other practice partners, but haven't had any luck so far. She started out as a 2nd base player for years. This year, her coach decided she was going to 1st base. Then saw her messing around pitching and liked what she saw, so now my child is a pitcher. Which means someone has to be behind the plate for her to pitch to, and right now the only available person is me. I don't squat. I kneel, but geezy petes, even that is killing me. Last night, coach asked her if she could catch as a relief catcher. I am really super proud of my daughter for her skill and dedication to this sport. She watched a college softball game with me when she was in first grade and said, I want to do that. It's been all softball all the time since then. My older two girls played, and it was nothing to go throw with them. I loved it. I still love working with my daughter, but my body doesn't. Last year it wasn't too bad to practice with her, flared me a bit, but within tolerable limits.

I know there isn't an actual answer to this dilemma, I think I just needed to vent it "out loud". Since I would never say it to or around my daughter. She has the skills, talent, and drive and to go far with this, and I don't want anything to hold her back. Thanks for listening!

Well had sort of the same dilema but it was a son and baseball. Like stated you do what you can do. I bought several and actually many,lol extra balls and on days i couldnt be much help wee used the field at the park and i sat and watched while he threw into the fence.

Not the best but i could still guide him and he was getting time in but i was just sitting.

Hey there....

I have a niece that was involved in softball from a young age... and now has a full scholarship (for softball) to UC Berkeley (she's a junior). It literally, though, was a "full time" job for her parents all through her pre-teen/teenage years. It takes a massive amount of hard work, dedication, etc. So - I can understand why you are proud of your daughter.... but I also hear your dilemma!

You should also be proud of yourself for helping support your daughter w/ her dreams - despite your own pain issues!

I'm not sure what the answer is... like you said - sometimes you just need to vent aloud... that being said - there's got to be someone else that might be able to be a practice partner and ease the burden for you - even a little!

Is there another parent on her team... that might be able to work w/ their own child as well as your daughter - in exchange for rides to practices/games? Or - not sure of your financial situation - but maybe there's a friend of your older daughters... or a neighborhood teen... etc. that might want to earn a few dollars by helping your daughter practice? OR - just another thought - that maybe a teen from the high school softball team might be willing to volunteer some time to mentor/help your daughter w/ practice. Finally - don't know if you are involved in a church or not... but kids from our church often help with issues such as this...

As SE said - things are going to get even more physically demanding (for you) as she gets on up to high school... so I would think that it would be really great if you could make some alternative arrangements now... at least to just help you! It might just take some creative thinking.... but I really hope you can get some help :)

Take good care.... --Tina

Also, you said you kneel. what about sitting in a chair? Like one of those office chairs with wheels, that doesn't have arms, so you can still reach and lean if you need to. Its about the same height as if you're kneeling, but it should be easier on your body, especially if you add a back cushion.

You won't have as much mobility as you would if you were standing, but it should be about the same as when you kneel, and its better than nothing!

Everything is worth a try at least once! A lot of the adaptations I've made successfully have come from trial and error- most of the time I think "that'll never work" it actually does!